Improvement in valves for basins



T. HEN'NESS'Y & MJH. DORGAN. Valve for Baslns Patented July'2 ,1878.

Witnesses M. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 0 C.

ITED STATES PATENT THOMAS HENNESSY AND MICHAEL H. DORGAN, OF SANFRANCISCO, CAL.

IMPROVEMENT IN VALVES FOR BASINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,549, dated July 2,1878; application filed May 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS HENNESSY and MICHAEL H. DORGAN, of the cityand county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented anImproved Valve; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to an improvement in that class of valves used forregulating the supply of water or other liquids to basins, tanks,water-closets, and for similar purposes.

It consists in so constructing a verticallymoving valve as to closeautomatically by the action of the water. This valve has a long stemextending upward into a recess in a spindle projecting through the topof the chamber, so that, when it is desired to allow the water to flow,the spindle is forced down by a screw, lever, or other means, thuspushing the valve clear of its seat by means of the stem. By raising thespindle and relieving the downward pressure the water in thesupply-tube, by its upward pressure, forces the floating valve into itsseat and shuts off the water.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 aresectional views of our device.

Let A represent the chamber in which the valve is inclosed, B the supplyand O the discharge pipes. In the lower part of the chamberA is formedaflange, D, which serves as a valve-seat, and from this flange a femalescrew-thread, c, is cut as far as shoulder d, and a male screw-thread,shorter than thread 6, is cut on the upper end of supply-pipe B fromshoulder (1. Against the valve-seat D, on its lower surface, is secureda proper packing, P, by means of a threaded ring or washer, \V. When thewasher and packing are in place and the discharge-pipe C and supply-pipeB are screwed together, the shoulders at d abut against each other andmake a tight joint. The ring or washer W, being movable from or towardthe valve-seat or flange D, allows the insertion of more or lesspacking, and hence the seat proper of the valve against the packing isadjustable to or from shoulders d cl.

On top of the chamber A is the screw-spindle E, said spindle passingdown into the i Hi, anti; ,7

chamber. The bottom of the spindle, inside the chamber, is recessed orbored out to receive the stem of the valve, as hereinafter described.

The valve F is formed in a peculiar shape, as shown, the bottom beingrecessed'or provided with a cavity, H, below, and the edges slightlyconcaved, while the top is convex or dome-shaped above the seat; andthis form receives the pressure of water from below, and also directsthe current when the valve is open, so as to steady the valve and insureits closing squarely and perfectly and remaining closed and tightthereafter. The top of this valve F has the face f formed around it, and

the central portion of the top is made domeshaped, as shown. In thecenter of the domeshaped top is fixed the stem G, which projects upwardand into the recess in the bottom of the spindle or stem E, fittingloosely in said recess. The valve F is made hollow, so as to floateasily, and is air-tight. The pressure of the water from the supplykeeps the floating valve with its face f firmly against the seat D, andprevents water entering the upper part of the chamber and escaping fromthe dischargepipe. hen it is desired to have the water flow, by screwingdown the spindle E the'top of the recess in said spindle pushes in thetop of the valve-stem G in said recess and forces the valve down againstthe water-pressure and away from its seat, thus allowing the water toflow into the upper part of the chamberA and to escape from thedischarge-pipe G. Then, by screwing the spindle E up again and releasingthe pressure on top of the valve-stem, the pressure of the water underthe valve forces it upward to its seat again and stops the flow.

The valve-stem plays loosely in the recess in the spindle, and is notattached to it in any way; but its action is such that the recess formsa guide to keep the valve always in such a position that its face willbe on the same plane as the seat and fit closely to it, thus keeping thewater-passage tight.

It will be seen that this valve may be used in a variety of cases forregulating water-supply'. We have shown it as applied to a bibcock andoperated by screw, stem, or spindle. It may be also used as awater-closet valve by having the recessed spindle operated by a seat orhandle with a spring to force it up again in the usual manner. In tanks011 houses, the spindle may be operated by a leverarm and ball float inthe usual way.

This form of valve will be very useful in cold climates, where the wateris apt to freeze at night in the water-pipes in the house. In suchplaces it is customary to disconnect the house-pipes from the mains anddraw 0E the water from the house-pipes by opening a faucet in the lowerpart of the main supply-pipe. Then all the faucets in. the house have tobe opened to admit air alone, so the water can flow out. With ourimproved valve, as soon as the water below is turned off and the cockopened the valve drops from its seat, admitting the air, so that all thewater in the housepipes runs ofl'. This saves all trouble of turning onthe various faucets, for as soon as the pressure is relieved each of thevalves in the house will drop and allow the water to flow off. The valvethus acts automatically, and

allows the water in all of the pipes in the house to flow off by simplyturning the lower cock, as Just as soon as the water is again described.

turned on the valve is forced to its seat and stops any water escaping,thus acting automatically in each instance.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The chamber A, formed in two parts, with the supply-pipe, havingscrew-threads at e, in combination with the adjustable seat D P W andbearing-shoulders d (1, so as to form a double joint, substantially asherein described.

2. The hollow float-valve F, with its concaved lower surface, and thecavity H, domeshaped top, and stem, in combination with the seat D,whereby the pressure of water balances the valve, either open or closed,substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals.

THOMAS HENNESSY. [L. s] MICHAEL H. DO'RGAN. [n s] Witnesses:

FRANK A. BRooKs, WM. H. THOMPSON.

